This paper analyses the changing perspectives of internal migration in Eastern Africa, hereby delineated as the region encompassing the traditional East Africa and the Horn of Africa. It relies on literature survey of published work and analysis of data over the last five decades. Internal migration perspectives have been changing as voluntary migration continued alongside forced and irregular internal migration in virtually all the countries of the region, precipitating diverse consequences for development in areas both of origin and destination. This paper is expected to chart future research to inform national policies and programmes on internal migration in Eastern Africa.